And take the helmet of salvation . . . . (Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV))

Have you ever had one of those days when it feels like you’ve fallen into a deep, dark pit? As you look up, the small point of light is so far away that getting out seems impossible. In those times, the only thing I can pray is “Abba, please help me,” over and over again.

Of course, God always rescues me when I finally turn to Him. He pulls me out of the pit. But how did I get there in the first place?

The day usually starts off just fine. No sign of a storm. Not a cloud in the sky.

But at some point, a barrage of negative thoughts pour into my head when I’m not paying attention. Before I know it, my mind is consumed by a situation, circumstance, or event.

Those thoughts are uninvited. Unwelcome. But that doesn’t stop them. And the descent into the pit begins.

So, what happened? When the thoughts came, I didn’t even consider that it was a tactic of the enemy. Satan’s mission is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Satan can’t possess a born-again believer who is already indwelt by the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). But one way he fulfills his mission is by messing with our minds.

Paul warned us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)). There’s a spiritual battle going on right now that we cannot see.

But God didn’t leave us defenseless. He gave us spiritual armor that we need to put on every day (Ephesians 6:13-18). One piece of that armor is the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17).

You can protect your mind with that helmet. You can keep the enemy from using your thoughts against you.

Surrounding your mind with the helmet of salvation reminds you of the truth. As a born‑again believer, all of God’s promises are yours in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). The truth about your salvation is that

  • your soul is secure because you’ve been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13);
  • you are God’s child (1 John 3:1);
  • you’re victorious because of what Jesus has done for you (1 John 5:4-5);
  • you are safe in Jesus’ hand (John 10:28);
  • nothing can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39); and
  • this life is not all there is – one day you will live with Jesus (John 14:3).

All of these promises – and many more – belong to you. God loves you, and He will be faithful to fulfill His promises. As my pastor likes to say, “The best is yet to come.” Amen!

Remind yourself of these truths. They remain true no matter how you feel. Although feelings are real and we all experience them, they lie. They’ll pull you down into the pit if you don’t remember the truth.

So, be proactive. Protect your mind by putting on the helmet of salvation. Pray and ask God to protect your mind at the start of each day. Say something like this in your own words:

Abba Father, please protect my mind from spiritual warfare today. Help me to remember that I belong to You. Please remind me throughout the day that I am safe in Your hand. Prompt me to meditate on the fact that I have an amazing future in store for me with You. I praise You because You are faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Another beautiful promise is that, when you draw near to God, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Draw close to Him today.

And remember – even though you can’t see what your future holds in this life, you can trust that God will fulfill His promises. Remember your status as God’s child and all He has promised as you walk by faith with Him.

 

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

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